Pope Francis rents a beach in Rome for disabled people to enjoy

The Little Madonna beach has been fitted with boardwalks, ramps and water vehicles to provide access to wheelchair users

Pope Francis has paid a year’s rent on a private beach near Rome for a disability charity to use.

The portion of the Little Madonna beach on the outskirts of the Italian capital, has been fitted with boardwalks, ramps and water vehicles to provide access to wheelchair users.

The Work Of Love charity has rented the area since 2012 and it says it is the only beach along the Roman coast which is “truly capable” of providing the type of facilities both carers and patients need.

It is staffed wholly by volunteers including medical professionals and members of the Italian Paralympic Swimming Federation.

Monseigneur Konrad Krajewski, the Vatican official in charge of distributing alms, told CNN that the pontiff wanted to "support the project that helps disabled youth and in particular to cover the cost of the annual rent for the beach."

The Reverend Massimo Consolaro, the priest who runs the group, said hundreds of people were now using the beach and the number were rising every year.

The size of the donation was not disclosed, but it is one of several made by the Vatican under Pope Francis that have hit the headlines in recent years.

Earlier this month the Holy See opened a free laundrette for homeless people in Rome to “restore dignity” to people who are unable to pay for the service.

Showers, a barber shop and a medical centre will be added in the coming months.

Since his election in 2013 as the Papacy’s first ever Jesuit pontiff Pope Francis has emphasised a return to Catholic charity.